Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano announced the lineup at M&T Bank this morning. Pictured to the right is Jazz Journalists Association’s Susan Brink, who presented Malfitano with a 2016 National Jazz Hero Award.

Sure we saw the lineup for this year’s Jazz Fest in the current issue of Downbeat already, but we still attended this mornings announcement at M&T Bank, because some things are better in person. Jazz Fest also puts together the best press kit for any music festival in the area.

This year’s stellar lineup include a former Doobie (Michael McDonald), a Shorty (Troy Andrews) a Missy (Melissa Gardiner and her band Second Line Syracuse) as well as a tribute to a Murphy (Mark) and an artist-in-residence named Randy (Brecker). In addition, Groove Legacy, the Maverick’s and Notefied promise to make this another must see event.

We also found out that the Mayor issued a proclamation naming today “Frank Malfitano Day” in Syracuse.

We have enjoyed the HBO documentary series Foo Fighters Sonic Highways, particularly the most recent edition that highlights New Orleans. We are thankful that many of the musicians featured (such as The Preservation Hall Jazz Band) on that episode have come through Syracuse for some amazing shows.

Here’s an extended clip with Trombone Shorty, who was the star of last summer’s Syracuse Jazz Festival.

His marathon performance on Friday at Syracuse Jazz Fest capped off a mini-tribute to New Orleans. If you closed your eyes, you could feel yourself walking along Bourbon Street, and if you listened close, you could almost taste the gumbo cooking in the kitchen.

Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue were the perfect crescendo to a night of jazz and swing for the 2014 Syracuse Jazz Fest (Day 1). After seeing the energetic show, we’d describe the former child prodigy from Treme as a combination drum major and sanctified Baptist preacher, accented with a taste of Rahsaan Patterson, Lee Morgan and Fred Wesley.

Shorty (aka Troy Andrews) is a tropical storm of resounding brass that shook the hills at Onondaga Community College.